Stars Off

Chairman Peter Phillips, has confirmed in the Bournemouth Evening Echo that: "The manager has spoken to both Brian and James and their representatives and my understanding is that, at this stage, both of them want to keep their options open and have a look around which is perfectly reasonable and most of us would do the same in their situation. Obviously, we would like to keep them both here because they are both superb players. But they are both players who we all know could play very successfully at a higher level so it's only reasonable that they should have a look around and see what's out there and we'll form a view if and when we get any approaches".

He went on to admit that: "It's a difficult balance. We had the same situation last season with Wade and Garreth and we decided to keep the squad together and try to get them promoted in which case, of course, both players would have stayed. But there is a big opportunity cost in that and it's one of these things where you are damned if you do and damned if you don't".